Adjustable clip holder for electronic device

ABSTRACT

This invention includes a clip holder for use with a portable electronic device. The clip holder employs a flexible cable as a retention device. The flexible cable passes through an aperture  210  formed by a central member and a support member, thereby forming two closed loops. The size of each loop may be adjusted. In its smallest configuration, the clip holder is suitable for attachment to a button on a garment. In an alternate configuration, a loop may be folded over itself and attached to a hook member through a second loop, thereby forming a secure, closed loop around any solid object, including belts, purse straps, bicycle parts, lanyards and backpacks. The clip holder includes a latching assembly for coupling to the appropriate portable electronic device.

BACKGROUND

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates generally to portable electronic devices,and more particularly to an adapter for removably, mechanically couplinga portable device another object.

[0003] 2. Background Art

[0004] Cellular phones are becoming ever more popular. With callingplans offering over 4000 minutes for less than $50 per month, it seemsthat everyone today is carrying a cellular phone. Many people like tohave their cellular phones in close proximity to that they may answercalls quickly. As opposed to carrying the phones in pockets, many peopletoday use belt clips to keep their phones close at hand.

[0005] Belt clips, like that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,184 toHauck et al., are known in the art. Referring to FIG. 1, illustratedtherein is a typical prior art belt clip. The belt clip 6 comprises arigid, plate-like member 27 with a latching means 28 for coupling to aportable electronic device. The plate-like member 27 of the belt clip 6then generally has a resilient, springy clip portion 32 for attachingthe belt clip 6 to the belt 8 as indicated in FIG. 1.

[0006] The problem with these prior art belt clips is that they are onlysuitable for thin, flat objects like belts. If a user wants to couplethe electronic device to something that is not shaped like a belt, abicycle handlebar for example, it would be impossible to do. The springyclip simply will not spring enough to go around a tubular piece of metallike a handlebar.

[0007] Additionally, many people do not wear belts. Many dresses forfemales, for example, are sans belts. Men may in fact wear Sansabelt™slacks. Some people are more comfortable wearing mu{grave over ()}umu{grave over ()}us. For these users, a belt clip is ineffective forattaching an electronic device to their personage.

[0008] There is thus a need for an improved clip holder for electronicdevices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is an illustration of a prior art belt clip.

[0010]FIG. 2 is an illustration of a clip holder in accordance with theinvention.

[0011]FIG. 3 illustrates a first method of use of the clip holder ofFIG. 2.

[0012]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a second method of use of the clip holderof FIG. 2.

[0013]FIG. 6 is an exemplary latching assembly for a clip holder inaccordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described indetail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like partsthroughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughoutthe claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associatedherein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of“a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in”includes “in” and “on.”

[0015] Referring now to FIG. 2, illustrated therein is a preferredembodiment of a clip holder 200 for portable electronic devices inaccordance with the invention. The clip holder 200 includes a centralmember 201 having a support member 202 coupled thereto. Note that thesupport member 202 may be a separate component that is attached to thecentral member 201, or may be constructed as an integral component inthe central member.

[0016] Through an aperture 210 formed between the support member 202 andthe central member 201, a cord 204 is passed. The cord is preferablycircular in shape and elastic, although it need not be. Any equivalentmaterial capable of forming a flexible loop would suffice. In thepreferred embodiment, the cord 204 is similar to hair elastics used tohold ponytail hairdos in place. The cord 204 creates two closed loops207,208. The loops 207,208 are at opposite sides of the support member202. The aperture 210 is designed such that there are frictional forcesbetween the cord 204 and the support member 201.

[0017] A hook member 203 is also provided. The hook member 203 iscoupled to the central member 201. The central member 201 furtherincludes a latching assembly 205, which is preferably located on theopposite side of the central member 201 from the cord 204. The latchingassembly is for coupling the central member 201 to a portable electronicdevice. The latching assembly 205 may be any of those known in the art,and may include a push-button release 206 for decoupling the electronicdevice from the clip holder 200.

[0018] The clip holder 200 may be used in at least two different ways.The first is as shown in FIG. 2. A solid object may be passed throughone loop 207. The user then pulls the cord 204 at the other loop 208 totighten any slack that may be present. The frictional forces keep thecord 204 from slipping. Alternatively, an optional brake button 209 maybe provided that is spring coupled to a brake mechanism in the aperture210. The user depresses the brake button 209 to release the brake,thereby allowing the cord 204 to pass through the aperture 210. When thebrake button 209 is released, the brake grips the cord 204, therebystopping its motion through the aperture 210. In either event, the hookmember 203 provides a one-way stop should either the frictional forcesor brake mechanism fail.

[0019] Such an application is shown in FIG. 3. Illustrated therein isthe clip holder 200 coupled to a portable electronic device 300 by wayof the latching assembly 205. A button 301 has been passed through thefirst loop, and the slack has been taken out by pulling the second loop208 of the cord 204. The electronic device 300 has thus been coupled toa button 301 in a way not possible with an ordinary belt clip.

[0020] The second way of using the clip holder 200 is shown in FIG. 4.Illustrated therein are the central member 201, the support member 202and the cord 204, just as in FIG. 2. In the method illustrated in FIG.4, however, the first loop 207 has been passed through the second loop208 and over the hook member 203. In this manner, a third loop 401 isformed, shown by way of line segment 400 that passes through the thirdloop 401. The third loop 401 is a secure, closed loop supported by thehook member 203 and the second loop 208. If the user wraps the cord 204about another object, like a bicycle handlebar or backpack strap forexample, the clip holder then serves a coupling means between theelectronic device and the other object. If the cord 204 is elastic, thecord 204 may be wrapped around an object with a thickness greater thatthat of the third loop 401. The elastic 204 would then expand, therebyoffering a snug fit. Hence, the clip holder 200 is capable of couplingto large solid objects, as well as through small holes, in ways thattraditional belt clips cannot. Such an embodiment is illustrated in FIG.5.

[0021] Referring now to FIG. 6, illustrated therein is both a plan viewand a side, elevated view of a clip holder 200 in accordance with theinvention. The views of FIG. 6 are to illustrate a preferred latchingassembly 205 for portable electronic devices. It will be clear to thoseof ordinary skill in the art that any number of equivalent latchingsystems may be substituted for this exemplary embodiment. The latchingassembly 205 is essentially a protrusion from the central member 201that inserts into an aperture 210 in the electronic device. The latchingassembly includes a retention latch 600 that is actuated by thepush-button release 206. When the push-button release 206 is depressed,a connecting member 601 causes the retention latch 600 to move withinthe edges of the latching assembly 205. This allows the latchingassembly 205 to move freely in the aperture 210. Once the latchingassembly 205 is within the aperture 210, the spring-loaded push-buttonrelease is released, thereby causing the retention latch 600 to matewith the appropriate retention stop within the aperture 210. The clipholder 200 is disconnected from the electronic device by following thesesteps in the reverse order.

[0022] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have beenillustrated and described, it is clear that the invention is not solimited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, andequivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by thefollowing claims. For example, the optional brake button and brake maybe employed with the embodiment of FIG. as well as the embodiment ofFIG. 2.

What is claimed is:
 1. A clip holder comprising: a. a central member; b.a support member coupled to the central member, wherein the coupling ofthe support member to the central member forms at least one aperture210; and c. a cord, wherein the cord passes through the at least oneaperture 210; wherein when the cord has passed through the at least oneaperture 210, at least a first loop and a second loop are formed, thefirst loop being on the opposite side of the support member from thesecond loop.
 2. The holder of claim 1, wherein the cord is elastic. 3.The holder of claim 1, further comprising a hook member coupled to thecentral member.
 4. The holder of claim 3, further comprising a latchingassembly coupled to the central member, the latching assembly forcoupling the holder to a portable electronic device.
 5. The holder ofclaim 4, further comprising a brake, the brake being actuated by a brakebutton, wherein the brake, when unactuated, exerts force on the elasticcord.
 6. The holder of claim 5, wherein the latching assembly comprisesa. a retention latch; b. a spring; and c. a push-button release coupledto the retention latch; wherein the retention latch is actuated by thepush-button release; further wherein when the push-button release isactuated by an actuating force, the spring exerts a force in theopposite direction of the actuating force.
 7. A method of using a clipholder, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing the clip holderof claim 1; b. passing an object through the first loop; and c. pullingthe second loop away from the support member to remove any slack fromthe first loop.
 8. A method of using a clip holder, the methodcomprising the steps of: a. providing the clip holder of claim 2; b.passing the elastic cord forming the first loop about an object; c.passing the elastic cord forming the first loop through the second loop;and d. passing the elastic cord forming the first loop about the hookmember.